Category: Facts

Animals on the Plane: 10 Bizarre Incidents Involving Animals on Flights

Commercial flights are bad enough when you have to deal with dozens to hundreds of people crammed in a metal tube. When people talk of a bad flight, it is mostly because of bad weather, sitting next to a noisy neighbor, or having to deal with screaming children on board. Add a barking dog or a snake to the problems people face in a typical cabin and you got yourself a mayhem in the skies.
In the US, most animal-related disturbances on flights are caused by poorly trained or untamed support animals which are allowed on flights by law. Unwelcome animals including deadly snakes still manage to get themselves onto airplanes and the resulting chaos is hard to escape. Here is a look at shocking as well as interesting incidents involving animals on flights.

  • A snake on AirAsia 

The story made rounds on the internet as AirAsia passengers and a pilot shared the video on social media tagging Samuel L. Jackson and #Snakesontheplane. The snake was recorded slithering through the overhead luggage compartment. It was a slender green snake that seemed trapped in the compartment and therefore didn’t find its way into the cabin. 

The flight from Kuala Lumpur to the Malaysian city of Tawau was forced to make an emergency landing in the city of Kuching in Borneo, over 500 miles from its destination. Since the snake could not be easily retrieved, the passengers were put on another flight as their plane was left to the animal handlers to locate the snake. The snake is believed to have entered the plane before take-off.

  • A cobra on EgyptAir 

The EgyptAir flight from Cairo to Kuwait had 90 legal passengers on board and an illegal one 91st who was an unwelcome Egyptian cobra hidden inside one traveler’s carry-on bag. The passenger who ran a pet shop in Kuwait was trying to smuggle the serpent when it sneaked out of his bag. The angry cobra bit the man as he tried to get it under control and then sneaked under the seats causing total panic on the flight. 

The pilot who was flying over the Red Sea was forced to seek an emergency landing in the resort town of Al Ghardaqa. Luckily, no more passengers were bitten as the plane landed and everyone disembarked to allow emergency crew and animal handlers to take control of the serpent. Hopefully, they enjoyed the beautiful sand beaches of the stretch of Al Ghardaqa as the plane was rid of the snake before their flight to Kuwait resumed. 

  • A snake on a Ravn Alaska

Alaska is a vast state where commuting is just a lot easier by air and that is where Ravn Alaska saves the days. On one flight from the village of Aniak to Anchorage in 2017, a loose pet snake caused a scare. The snake had escaped from its owner on a previous flight. The pilots and attendants failed to locate it in time before the passengers to Anchorage boarded the plane. 

The pilot warned the passengers that there was a loose snake on the plane, but there was no commotion as they were reassured that it wouldn’t bite. A brave flight attendant finally managed to secure the snake which was found lying near a little boy. She was able to put it into a trash bag without any harm coming to her or the passengers.

  • The woman and the pig on US Airways

It happened on a Thanksgiving morning US Airways flight from Connecticut to Washington. The woman carrying the pig wasn’t identified by name but images of her carrying a huge pig made rounds online. She boarded a little late after most passengers were seated and caused a protest from fellow passengers when her nearly 100lb pig caused the whole cabin to start stinking. The pig also defecated in the aisle and squealed so loudly that the crew kicked both the animal and her owner off the flight. 

The law is not clear on what species or size of animal can be allowed on board as an emotional support animal so it is up to the airlines to set those rules. The rules limit the weight and size of animals allowed on board and most importantly, insist on the animal being trained. The pig in this case was neither trained nor secured which would explain the problems it brought to the cabin.

  • The dog that forced a US Airways flight to make an emergency landing

A support animal out of control is nothing compared to dog poop smelling in the cabin so bad that passengers start getting sick. It happened on US Airways flight 598 from Los Angeles to Philadelphia. A dog that the crew only described as a “big dog” defecated in the cabin three times. 

The crew ran out of paper towels to clean up the excrement after the dog defecated the second time, so when it did a third time, the passengers had to deal with the smell. Passengers started getting sick because of the smell forcing the pilot to divert the plane to Kansas City and make an emergency landing. The flight took off an hour later after a cleaning crew had been deployed on the plane and the crew restocked on towels.

  • The Labrador that mauled a passenger on Delta Airlines

The passenger took both the owner of the dog and the airline to court in a case that caused sweeping changes to how Delta Airlines handles support animals. The dog which was apparently well trained and fully documented was the service animal for a US marine officer on the same flight. 

The passenger, Marlin Jackson, was supposed to sit next to the dog owner on the flight from Atlanta to San Diego. Having received the window seat, he walked past the dog and its owner, and for some reason, the dog started growling before attacking him. It pinned him onto the window of the plane and bit him in the face. The attack was apparently so severe that the airline had to remove the entire row of seats because of the bleeding. He ended up needing 28 stitches to his face.

  • The snake on Aeromexico

This is the closest a real-life flight came to Samuel L. Jackson’s film Snakes on The Plane as a serpent was recorded slithering inside the cabin. It is not clear how the green snake ended up inside the cabin of the flight from Torreon to Mexico City but there is a good chance it was a stray from the airport. The snake was recorded slithering from the back of the cabin between the plane’s body and the overhead luggage compartment.

 The snake then lost its grip and dropped onto one of the seats in the back, which was, luckily enough, unoccupied. The snake emerged when the plane had already reached Mexico City, so all the pilot had to do was request a priority landing and get the passengers off as quickly as possible before the snake found its way to the front part of the plane. No one was harmed on the flight either, but it was a real close shave for most of the passengers.

  • A stray cat in a Tarco Aviation cockpit

Tarco Aviation offers chattered flights mostly around Europe, Asia, and Africa, taking passengers to places where commercial flights are not readily available. The airline was making one such trip from Khartoum, Sudan to Doha, Qatar when a cat suddenly appeared in the cockpit. 

The aggressive feline started attacking the pilot and the crew in the cockpit creating a catastrophic situation that forced the flight to divert back to Khartoum just 30 minutes after departure. The stowaway is believed to have entered the plane the night before the flight but it is not clear how it found its way into the cockpit. 

  • Excessively farty sheep on Singapore Airlines

Animals in the cargo hauls are not any more comfortable when crammed together than humans are in the cabin. Grazers give out lots of methane when grazing in the fields, and that can result in lots of heat when they are doing their business in a metal tube. That is what happened on a Singapore Airlines flight from Sidney to Kuala Lumpur. 

The pilots thought the plane was on fire because of the heat signal causing them to request for an emergency landing in Denpasar, Bali. The fire crew was surprised to find the farty ruminants comfortable in the cargo haul and no fire on the plane. They later told the pilots to advise farmers on changing the animals’ diet before they board planes.

  • Snake in the shoe

Moira Boxall wasn’t planning on smuggling a spotted python from Australia to Scotland when she took her flight in 2019 after her holiday. The flight from Queensland to Edinburgh is more than 9,000 miles long making it one of the longest flights in the world and the last thing you want on such a flight is a snake tucked in your hand luggage. 

The passenger in this case didn’t open her suitcase until after the plane landed in Scotland though which was a huge relief. They found the small python curled up in her shoe and even started shedding its skin after over 24 hours of traveling. The snake wasn’t poisonous and all she had to do was get animal rescue to get it a new home in Edinburgh.

Discovering Svalbard: Five Fascinating Facts

Nestled far in the northern reaches, where the cold breath of the Arctic whispers tales of stark beauty and surreal norms, Svalbard stands as a testament to both human adaptability and nature’s raw power. This unique Norwegian archipelago is not just a place of icy landscapes and midnight suns but also a treasure trove of curious facts that highlight its distinct character. Here are five intriguing aspects of Svalbard that capture the essence of its unusual charm:

1. The Myth of Dying in Longyearbyen: Contrary to popular belief, it’s not illegal to die in Longyearbyen, but the town has unique arrangements regarding death. Burials are not permitted due to the permafrost’s ability to preserve bodies indefinitely, as discovered in 1950 when bodies from the 1918 flu pandemic showed no signs of decomposition. Instead, ashes can be interred with government permission, and residents facing terminal illnesses are usually moved to the mainland. This macabre reality, where the dead remain eerily preserved, raises fears of virus outbreaks. This eerie phenomenon could be straight out of a thriller TV series.

2. The World’s Only Visa-Free Zone: Imagine a place where nationality doesn’t dictate one’s right to reside—that’s Svalbard. This visa-free haven welcomes anyone willing to brave the Arctic isolation, provided they can secure employment and meet living requirements. From wildlife photographers and researchers to adventurers seeking solitude, Svalbagard offers a unique, albeit temporary, refuge from the world.

3. Mandatory Firearm Carriage: When stepping beyond the safety of Svalbard’s settlements, carrying a gun becomes not just a precaution but a legal requirement. This law is a direct response to the archipelago’s considerable polar bear population, ensuring safety in this stark wilderness.

4. Apocalypse-Proof Seed Vault: Deep within a frozen mountain lies the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, an apocalyptic safe haven for the world’s crop diversity. Notably, among its botanical treasures are over 20,000 marijuana seeds, safeguarding this particular plant against global catastrophes.

5. A Community Above the Rest: Longyearbyen, not just the world’s northernmost settlement with a population over a thousand, but also a place of peculiar laws and lifestyle adaptations. From prohibiting cats to protect native wildlife to regulating alcohol purchases, life here adjusts to environmental and social necessities in ways found nowhere else on Earth.

6 Crazy Nutrition Facts

nutrition

Nutrition is an ever-evolving field filled with fascinating insights and surprising revelations. Here are six nutrition facts that might change how you think about food:

1. The Evolution of Nutrition Labels: It’s hard to imagine, but before 1994, food products in the U.S. didn’t require nutrition labels. When these labels were introduced, they sparked debate. Surprisingly, even today, these labels can have a variance of up to 20% in their nutritional information and still meet FDA regulations.

2. A Bizarre Study on Human Nutrition: A peculiar study reported by PBS delved into which parts of the human body would offer the most nutritional value if consumed. The findings suggest that in a survival scenario, the most nutrient-rich parts are the buttocks, thighs, and skin. This macabre research notably affected the researcher’s ability to enjoy common foods like bacon.

3. The Necessity of Haitian Mud Cookies: In Haiti, mud cookies made from dirt, shortening, and salt are not just a cultural curiosity—they are a critical nutritional supplement. These cookies are especially important for pregnant women and children, helping them get essential nutrients.

4. The Twinkie Diet Experiment: In an unconventional experiment, a nutrition professor dramatically demonstrated that weight loss could hinge solely on caloric intake, not the quality of the diet. By consuming a diet of convenience store snacks like Twinkies, Doritos, and sugary cereals, the professor managed to lose 27 pounds, challenging conventional dietary wisdom.

5. The Impact of Healthy School Lunches: Recent studies have shown that children who consume school-prepared lunches adhering to the Healthy, Hunger-Free His Kids Act guidelines exhibit improved diet quality. This underscores the significant role that school meal programs can play in fostering nutritional health among children.

6. Steve Jobs’ Singular Diet Choices: Steve Jobs, the iconic co-founder of Apple, was known for his unorthodox eating habits. He would often restrict his diet to just one or two foods, such as carrots or apples, consuming them exclusively for weeks on end.

10 Fascinating Facts About Documentaries

Documentaries offer a window into unique and often surprising aspects of our world. From daring rescues to historical footage, these non-fiction films provide stories that captivate and educate audiences.

Here are ten interesting facts about documentaries that highlight their diverse and impactful nature:

1. Super Size Me Controversy: Numerous people, including a group of Swedish researchers, attempted to replicate the experiment featured in the 2004 documentary “Super Size Me.” None were able to achieve the same results as the film’s creator.

2. Misleading Documentaries: Animal Planet aired a fake documentary twice, claiming the existence of mermaids.

3. Project Grizzly’s Extreme Measures: “Project Grizzly” follows a Canadian man inspired by Robocop and a bear encounter, who set out to create bear-proof body armor. The documentary shows him enduring extreme tests, including being hit with 2x4s, thrown off a cliff, and hit by a truck at 50 km/hr. This film is one of Quentin Tarantino’s favorites.

4. 9/11 Documentary Footage: In 2001, two brothers were filming a documentary about a probationary New York firefighter. On September 11, they went on a routine call for a gas leak and ended up capturing the only footage of the first plane hitting the Twin Towers. They followed the FDNY into the towers and survived.

5. Steve Irwin’s Heroic Pause: While filming a documentary in 2003, Steve Irwin and his crew halted production to assist in a two-day search and rescue operation for missing scuba divers.

6. China’s Backlash Against Antonioni: Italian filmmaker Michelangelo Antonioni made a documentary about China that so angered the Chinese Communist Party, they launched an anti-Antonioni campaign, which included televised denouncements, nationwide criticisms, and anti-Antonioni songs taught to schoolchildren.

7. Fahrenheit 9/11’s Box Office Success: Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11” is the highest-grossing documentary of all time, earning $119.1 million at the box office.

8. Cosmos and Seth MacFarlane: The science documentary series “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey” was produced by Seth MacFarlane, the creator of “Family Guy.”

9. SwissAir Documentary Drama: A SwissAir flight crew was recording a documentary when one of the plane’s engines failed. The film captured the pilots’ calm demeanor as they handled the situation—turning off the engine, informing passengers, dumping fuel, eating chocolate, and taking a coffee break.

10. Gordon Ramsay’s Close Call: While filming a documentary about the illegal shark fin industry, Gordon Ramsay was doused in gasoline and held at gunpoint by gang members. He and his crew escaped by diving into their car and driving away.

These stories demonstrate the wide-ranging and sometimes perilous experiences involved in documentary filmmaking, showcasing the dedication and bravery of those behind the camera.

Fascinating Facts About GPS

 


GPS technology has revolutionized how we navigate and explore the world. Beyond helping us find our way, there are many lesser-known aspects of this remarkable system. Here are seven interesting facts about GPS that showcase its complexity and importance.

1. High Operational Costs: Operating and maintaining the GPS system costs approximately $2 million each day. This expense, which includes satellite launches and regular maintenance, is covered by American tax revenue.

2. Automatic Deactivation: GPS units are designed to shut down if they detect speeds over 1200 mph (1900 km/h) at altitudes above 60,000 feet (18,000 meters) to prevent misuse in high-speed, high-altitude applications such as intercontinental ballistic missiles.

3. Relativity Adjustments: Due to their high speeds, GPS satellites experience time differently. According to Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity, a second on a GPS satellite is 8 microseconds longer than a second on Earth. GPS systems are programmed to account for this discrepancy.

4. ‘Death by GPS’ Incidents: Some users have ended up in dangerous situations by blindly following GPS instructions, leading them off cliffs, into lakes, or deep into deserts. These incidents highlight the importance of paying attention to the real-world environment rather than relying solely on digital directions.

5. Selective Availability (SA): In the 1990s, civilian GPS accuracy was intentionally degraded by a feature called Selective Availability (SA). This changed in 2000 when President Bill Clinton ordered SA to be turned off, significantly improving GPS accuracy for civilian use.

6. Impact on Navigation Skills: Research suggests that heavy reliance on GPS can diminish our natural ability to form and use mental maps, potentially weakening our innate navigation skills.

7. Space-Based Navigation (XNAV): Scientists are developing a new type of GPS for space travel. This system, called XNAV, uses X-rays from pulsars to provide precise location information, accurate to within 5 kilometers, anywhere in space.

These facts reveal the intricate workings and profound impact of GPS technology, reminding us of its critical role and the importance of using it wisely.